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7 thoughts

The cycle of just about every psychological addiction. The problem with porn is that #1 – it is socially accepted by society. #2. It’s so easy to justify in our own minds as being normal.
Plus, as Christians today, we think we can simply declare ourselves “saved” and go out and live however we want, and it doesn’t matter.

Part of repenting is “agreeing with God” that the activity is wrong and turning away from it. I specifically have a cousin who is “saved” yet still quite proudly looks at porn and sees no problem with it. I’m not sure what do or say. Just hope/pray that the Holy Spirit works in his heart at some point…

John – exactly, if we are agreeing with God it seems like that is a bigger deal than just feeling bad.

The cousin is a tough one – with so many churches out there agreeing it is hard to get through. Sin is sin though and if he is truly saved, Jesus is dealing with him and will continue to until he listens. If he is not, then that is a whole different ballgame.

When people talk about “embracing” or “accepting” some sin in their life, they often refer to God’s grace as a “covering” that will make it ok. But if we have received God’s grace, it has a definite effect on us, namely this:

(Titus 2:11-13)
11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

It is the devil’s greatest triumph when he convinces a person that their sin is simply a part of “who they are” and so they should embrace it. That way leads to death. But “This sin is just a part of who I am” is a LIE that can be defeated! Anyone who has been addicted to anything has felt that way at one time or another. I certainly have felt “powerless” when faced with certain temptations. But we must never forget that, as Christians, we are at war against the devil and against our own flesh desires. We are being attacked! To embrace your sin is to surrender to the devil. Never stop fighting! Never stop resisting!

The key to defeating any temptation is to renew your mind on Truth. First, you are NOT a slave to sin. Jesus has disarmed the power of sin to enslave us… we are free indeed. You MUST believe this first. Read it, over and over (Romans 6:1-14). Confess it, again and again. Believe it in your heart! Speak it when temptation comes. Draw your sword and FIGHT!

If you are fighting and “losing” it is because you fight with the wrong beliefs. If you believe in your heart what God’s Word says you cannot lose, ever! You MUST know God’s Word to wield it in battle! Human effort cannot defeat sin. Jesus can, and His Word must be firmly established in our hearts.

Second, your temptation is not unique to you. Other men have been tempted in just the same way. Jesus was also tempted in every way, yet without sin, and we have received His Spirit that we may also defeat temptation. Do we sometimes slip and fall? Yes. Should we ever embrace our sin? NO! Sin cannot defeat us; we have God’s Word on it! (1 Corinthians 10:13) Read it, confess it, believe it!

As long as you keep fighting and renew your mind on the Truth, God extends His grace and forgives, and eventually you will walk in total freedom… it really is a matter of believing in your heart that you can, and faith to believe comes from reading and confessing God’s Word as being true.

It’s also important to understand that there is very BAD news for anyone who gives up and embraces their sin. The following passages highlight the danger, but it need not go this way… we each are able to defeat temptation by the power of Christ, by the Spirit we have received. They key is renewing the mind on God’s Word and knowing that Jesus works mightily within us.

(1 John 3: 2-10)
2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. 4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.
6 No one who lives in him keeps on (deliberately) sinning. No one who continues to (deliberately) sin has either seen him or known him.
7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who (deliberately) does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
9 No one who is born of God will continue to (deliberately) sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on (intentionally) sinning, because they have been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not (habitually) do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.

And again:

(Hebrews 10: 26-31)
26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

What is your advice to young Christian girls in responding to their male peers and their porn habits? In my younger and unmarried years, I was known to fly off the handle in response with disgust, rage, etc. Certainly not a grace-filled approach, which I deeply regret.

Honestly, I get the feeling behind younger you’s response. Sin is bad, it just twists us and porn does such bad things to young women it’s tough to handle.

That said God loves those guys greatly and like the Shepherd in the parable of the 99 and 1 sheep from John is out searching for them wanting to carry them back into the sheepfold. He loves them even when they are in self imposed darkness so we should too – Jesus never accepts or excuses people’s sin, He calls them on it gently and with love, calls them to repentance and them calls them back to Him.

So to the young ladies, dont let them off the hook – boys don’t have to be boys – but point them to Jesus. His holiness and grace will work it out.